Enigma – Nature & Water Hotel

A four-star superior hotel in Vale do Juncal, about 5 km from Zambujeira do Mar, in the heart of the Costa Vicentina. The house motto is "your time is all yours": life here follows the pace of nature, between the hills and the sea, with views over the Serra de Monchique and the estate's lake.

Water gives the hotel its name and is everywhere: an outdoor pool with sun loungers and garden and, in the Enigma Essences spa, an indoor pool and a gym with cardio and fitness equipment. At the Enigma Flavours restaurant, overlooking the countryside, breakfast brings together the best of Portuguese pastries, bread and charcuterie; toasties and baguettes are served during the day, and dinner should be booked in advance.

The contemporary double or twin rooms have a balcony facing the hills or the pool and sleep two adults and a child. There are also King Deluxe suites (some with an indoor garden), the Presidential Suite and a 90 m² two-bedroom apartment with living room, fully equipped kitchen and private entrance, sleeping up to five.

A good base for the beaches of Zambujeira do Mar, Carvalhal, Amália, Brejão and Odeceixe, many of them barely touched and reachable on foot or by bike. The Algarve is 20 km away, Faro airport about an hour and Lisbon airport two hours.